The Season of Giving

Sorry it’s been awhile since I rapped at ya’. I wish I had some madcap excuse for not updating, but truth is I am just too exhausted at night to do anything but stare blankly at a wall. The wall isn’t at all that interesting either. I need to update more often.
This being the holiday season, I received a care package from a class of sophomores at Monmouth High School in Monmouth New Jersey. I had registered my name and address on a website called anysoldier.com—the website releases your information to groups who would like to send care packages/letters to soldiers. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and get some rich old family who feels guilty for draft dodging or whatever and they send you gold plated golf clubs and a washing machine. And other times you get…Monmouth High School. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for ANYTHING I receive in the mail, it’s just that sometimes I don’t think people have a grasp of what soldiers really need or how we live. This website even released my name and some things that I might like. Here is an abridged version of the letter I wrote back to the little tykes.

Dear Monmouth High Schooler’s

Thank you so much for your thoughtful letter and care package. I was running low on maxi-pads, so I appreciate the refill. Also, the delectable snacks you sent really hit the spot—it’s been so long since I had canned whole kernel corn and kidney beans! MMMHMM! For future reference, the handkerchief knap-sack on the end of my hobo pole is a little ragged, I could use another one. Thank you for your support, stay in school!

Yeah. Canned corn, beans, and some maxi pads. I guess they assumed Justin was a female name? On second thought, I went to college with a bunch of kids from New Jersey, and most of them were jerks! You don’t suppose that these Jersey High School students thought they would pull a mean joke on a soldier, do you? Or could it be that people think we don’t have enough to eat? Why do you think this war is costing $100Billion? It isn’t for the bombs; we rarely get to drop those anymore.